Give urgent attention to the New Zealand Law Commission's recommendations regarding medical cannabis

Why this is important

The country's largest medical organisation is backing
a Law Commission proposal that would allow for the medicinal use of
cannabis.

The New Zealand Medical Association (NZMA), which
has 4500 members, says it supports a Law Commission proposal to allow
people suffering from chronic or debilitating illnesses to use cannabis
under medical supervision.

The proposal, outlined in the commission's "Issues
Paper on Controlling and Regulating drugs", has not found favour with
Justice Minister Simon Power, but NZMA Director Peter Foley believes the
use of cannabis for medicinal purposes IS acceptable, provided it is
subject to the same evidence-based testing as any other drug used for
the same reason.

In a submission to the Law Commission, Foley said the Association (NZMA) supported cannabis being prescribed by registered medical practitioners for specified conditions where other available treatments or drug therapies have not been effective or have produced unmanageable side-effects. Medicinal use of cannabis is currently legal in 17 states of the USA including California and Washington DC, the Netherlands, Germany, Spain, Canada and Israel.

The Green Party tried in 2009 to get the Misuse
of Drugs Act amended to allow cannabis to be used for medicinal
purposes, but their bill failed on its first reading after it was voted
down 86-34 on a conscience vote by MPs.

The cannabis plant has been part of humanity’s medicine chest for almost as long as history has been recorded. Hundreds of recent studies validate the therapeutic use of cannabis and cannabinoids. Of all the negative consequences of marijuana prohibition, none is as tragic as the denial of medicinal cannabis to the tens of thousands of patients who could benefit from its therapeutic use.

Modern research suggests that cannabis is a valuable aid in the treatment of a wide range of clinical applications. These include pain relief — particularly of neuropathic pain (pain from nerve damage) — nausea, spasticity, glaucoma, and movement disorders. Cannabis is also a powerful appetite stimulant, specifically for patients suffering from HIV, the AIDS wasting syndrome, or dementia. Emerging research suggests that cannabinoids found in cannabis may protect the body against some types of malignant tumors and are neuroprotective. Currently, more than 60 international health organizations support granting patients immediate legal access to medicinal cannabis under a doctor’s supervision.

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We, the undersigned, request that parliament give urgent attention to the New Zealand Law Commission's recommendations regarding medical cannabis, in particular:
1. Instruct police to adopt a policy of not prosecuting in cases where they are satisfied that cannabis use is directed towards pain relief or managing the symptoms of chronic or debilitating illness.
2. Give doctors the power to prescribe cannabis in its raw and natural form where conventional treatment has proven ineffective.
3. Immediatly allow the start of clinical trials as recommended by the Law Commission and the New Zealand Medical Association.

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We, the undersigned, request that parliament give urgent attention to the New Zealand Law Commission's recommendations regarding medical cannabis, in particular:
1. Instruct police to adopt a policy of not prosecuting in cases where they are satisfied that cannabis use is directed towards pain relief or managing the symptoms of chronic or debilitating illness.
2. Give doctors the power to prescribe cannabis in its raw and natural form where conventional treatment has proven ineffective.
3. Immediatly allow the start of clinical trials as recommended by the Law Commission and the New Zealand Medical Association.

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Give urgent attention to the New Zealand Law Commission's recommendations regarding medical cannabis

We, the undersigned, request that parliament give urgent attention to the New Zealand Law Commission's recommendations regarding medical cannabis, in particular:
1. Instruct police to adopt a policy of not prosecuting in cases where they are satisfied that cannabis use is directed towards pain relief or managing the symptoms of chronic or debilitating illness.
2. Give doctors the power to prescribe cannabis in its raw and natural form where conventional treatment has proven ineffective.
3. Immediatly allow the start of clinical trials as recommended by the Law Commission and the New Zealand Medical Association.

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Give urgent attention to the New Zealand Law Commission's recommendations regarding medical cannabis

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